Fence-post.



J. WELFLE.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILLED MAR.3,1913.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

Inventor Attorneys APH (IO-,WASIIINGTON. u. c.

STATS JOSEPH WELFLE, OE HAMLEB, Q1110.

FENCE-PQST.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed March 3, 1913. Serial No. 751,851.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH VVELFLE, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Hamler, in the county of Henry and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to fence posts, and aims to provide a novel and improved metallic fence post and means for securing the fence wires thereto.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a fence post which may be inexpensively manufactured from sheet metal so as to possess the requisite rigidity, and in order that fasteners or keepers for the wires may be attached thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient fasteners or keepers adapted to hold the wires and adapted to engage the fence post in a novel and peculiar manner, in order to constrain the wires from shifting vertically, but permitting them to slide or move horizontally or longitudinally, due to the expansion or contraction of the wires caused by changes in atmospheric conditions.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the keepers or fasteners. Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective of the post illustrating a pair of dents provided in edges of the flanges.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to the drawing, the fence post is fashioned or bent from sheet metal, and to this end, there is provided an elongated sheet metal blank which is bent longitudinally into a shell 5 and which has its edges spaced apart, as at 6, and then re flexed or bent apart as denoted by the numeral 7. The shell 5v is preferablyof circu cross section, and also preferably tapers from its lower end to its upper end, while the oppositely projecting flanges or reflexed edges 7 are approximately of equal Width throughout the length of the post.

The keeper or fastener embodies a sheet metal strip 8 having its ends bent angularly. The ends of the strip are provided with the open slots 9 extending to the body of the strip so as to form the tongues 10. The keepers or fasteners as well as the post proper may be constructed of any suitable sheet metal, galvanized, plated or otherwise finished for purpose of Wear and protection.

The fence wires have been designated by the numeral 11 and in securing the wires to the post, the clips are engaged to the respective wires, the slots 9 receiving the wires, and the tongues 10 are then bent over the flanges or reflexed edges 7 of the post. In securing the keepers or fasteners to the flanges or edges 7 the wires 11 will be in dented into the flanges or edges as denoted by the numeral 12, which will lock the wires against shifting vertically or up and down on the post. although the wires are free to slide or shift horizontally or longitudinally as they expand and contract due to the changes in atmospheric conditions. It will be evident that any number of wires may be secured to the post, or that any form of fence may be attached thereto, the respective strands being engaged by keepers or fasteners to hold the fence rigidly to the post.

Attention is directed to the fact that the reflexed edges or flanges 7 not only serve as an attaching means for the fasteners or the keepers for the fence wires, but also serve to strengthen the post, so that there will be no liability for the post to kink orbend due to animals rubbing or pushing up against the same. The reflexed edges or flanges 7 do not lie in the same plane but are disposed at a large obtuse angle relative to each other, so that the Wires may be indented into the edges of the flanges as above described.

The device as a whole is simple, substantial, durable, compact and inexpensive, as well as efiicient, desirable and convenient in use.

What is claimed as new is A fence post embodying a sheet metal blank bent longitudinally into a shell and PatentedOct. 14., 1911.31.

' ceive Wires and forming tongues adapted to In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature 10 in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH WELFLE.

be bent over the flanges, the edges of the flanges being adapted to be dented by the WH'GS.

Witnesses:

J. M. VVILLARD, I'IENRY WILLARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

